EZjet yesterday said that two-thirds of the passengers left in the lurch by the suspension of its air service have been refunded and only US$190,000 is outstanding.
And for the first time, it said in a statement that its Chief Executive Officer Sonny Ramdeo is co-operating with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation on the matter of allegations that have ensnared him and his former employer.
EZjet was yesterday responding to a report in the Kaieteur News.
It said that only 300 passengers in Guyana are still due refunds and not 3,000 passengers as alleged by the newspaper.
EZjet added that its receivables in Guyana are US$260,000 and it has a US$200,000 cash bond posted with the Government.
Additionally, the travel agencies which sold tickets to EZjet passengers are making refunds to those passengers who have not flown.
EZjet asked passengers who have not yet been refunded to contact it with their telephone number and address and to have patience with the service.
It added that Ramdeo, is on the front-line dealing with issues related to the sudden suspension of EZjet’s service by the US Department of Transportation. EZjet had originally said that Ramdeo had stepped down from the airline after his employer had levelled embezzlement allegations at him and filed a lawsuit. EZjet later announced that Ramdeo was back in charge.
The EZjet statement yesterday also said that Ramdeo is cooperating with the FBI in their investigation relating to the alleged diversion of US$5.4 million by his former employer. That is an allegation Ramdeo levelled at his former employer after the employer had filed suit against him.
“Mr. Ramdeo is managing EZjet’s refund process and coordinating day to day activities with EZjet staff and travel agencies who are facilitating passenger refunds”, the statement said.
Also reported by EZjet yesterday were activities by its other offices. It said that its New York office is auditing its New York passenger ticket sales and baggage charges, reconciling travel agent and passenger accounts. It was to have begun refunding more passengers yesterday.
In relation to Toronto, Canada, EZjet said that all passenger payments for not-flown flights are being held in trust by the Canada quasi-agency TICO. It added that all reimbursements to passengers who paid more to return home to Toronto on Caribbean Airlines are also being paid by EZjet Canada.
In Port of Spain, passenger payments for not-flown flights are being coordinated with the travel agencies who booked the flights and did not pay EZjet Trinidad. It said that refunds will begin next week.
